Our Halong bay cruise ended mid-morning and we were picked up by Bob & Phuong for the 3-hour drive back through Hanoi, then down to Ninh Binh. At about the halfway mark we stopped at a nice filling station/food stop to use the ‘happy room’. The place had souvenirs and snacks for sale, including a wide range of bongs.
We stayed at Tam Coc Garden, a really nice resort just outside of Ninh Binh.
The usual check-in process of a cold towel and welcome drink was supplemented with a nice homemade chocolate biscuit (cookie to us Yanks). Our room was in a cabin overlooking the lily ponds and gardens. It is very quiet and peaceful with only 18 rooms in all. Mosquito netting required!
The gardens were fantastic. There was an army of staff trimming plants, clearing undergrowth and picking up garden debris. It looks like a regular chore.
After a few drinks at the outdoor bar we had dinner at the resort dining room. Mary got her pizza fix in. I went with the highly recommended grilled mountain goat which the area is known for. They bring out a very hot stone and sliced goat meat. The idea is to cook the meat on the stone and then eat it. The goat tasted great but was inedible due to how much fat was in the cut. The manager noticed that I hadn’t finished the meal, was very apologetic, and took 15% off the bill at the end even though we asked him not to.
Dick